News Summary
Virginia Beach hosted the US National Rip Curl GromSearch Final, showcasing top young surfers in a state-of-the-art wave pool. The event attracted 64 under-16 athletes, emphasizing the area’s rising surf culture and economic contribution through tourism. Winners in various categories earned the chance to compete internationally, highlighting Virginia Beach as a hub for emerging surfing talent and community engagement.
Virginia Beach hosted the US National Rip Curl GromSearch Final over the weekend, showcasing the top young surfing talent from North America. The event featured 64 under-16 surfers competing in the state-of-the-art wave pool at Atlantic Park Surf, recognized as a “stadium for surfing.” This competition not only highlighted the skills of these rising stars but also reinforced Virginia Beach’s status as an emerging surf destination.
The wave pool provided a controlled environment that allowed young athletes to surf without the unpredictability of natural ocean conditions. This setting was praised for leveling the playing field, giving all competitors the opportunity to perform at their best, which reflects Rip Curl’s commitment to nurturing future surfing champions.
Nate Stevens, General Manager of Atlantic Park Surf, noted that holding the GromSearch Final in Virginia Beach presents a snapshot of what the future holds for East Coast surfing. An increasingly popular year-round surf destination, Virginia Beach is contributing positively to the local economy through tourism related to hotels, restaurants, and surf shops. With growing excitement around surf culture in the area, visitors from the East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast attended the event.
Following the earlier success of the Chlorine Clash Invitational earlier this year, the GromSearch National Final is part of a trend of surf competitions enhancing Virginia Beach’s reputation. The atmosphere during the event was described as lively, adding to the local surf community’s excitement and joy.
Competition Results
Finn Castle from Huntington Beach emerged as a standout performer, clinching first place in both the Boys U16 and U14 divisions. Additionally, he received the Banzai Bowls Best Air award for his exceptional performance. In the Girls U16 division, Ocea Green performed remarkably, while Teagan Meza took the win in the U14 Girls category.
Winners by Category
Boys U16: 1st – Finn Castle, 2nd – Tanner Sandvig, 3rd – Merrik Mochkatel, 4th – Makai Castle
Boys U14: 1st – Finn Castle, 2nd – Hayden Flores, 3rd – Giacomo Mesinas, 4th – Wyatt Yount
Girls U16: 1st – Ocea Green, 2nd – Alana Lopez, 3rd – Marlo Harris, 4th – Kaydn Persidok
Girls U14: 1st – Teagan Meza, 2nd – Auburn Hilley, 3rd – Estorya Martinez, 4th – Amari Moore
The winners of the National Final now have the chance to compete in Hossegor, France, for the International GromSearch Title, marking a significant step in their budding surfing careers. The event has reinforced Rip Curl’s vision and commitment to cultivating the growth of surf culture in Virginia Beach by hosting inclusive and community-driven events.
In conclusion, Virginia Beach has positioned itself as a key player in the surfing world, particularly for up-and-coming talent. The collaboration between Rip Curl and local partners will continue to support young athletes and nurture a vibrant local surf community.
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Additional Resources
- Wave Pool Mag: GromSearch Final Virginia Beach
- The Inertia: GromSearch Virginia Wave Pool
- Wave Pool Mag: Rip Curl Virginia Beach GromSearch 2025
- Wikipedia: Surfing
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Surfing
Author: STAFF HERE VIRGINIA BEACH WRITER
VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER The VIRGINIA BEACH STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HEREVirginiaBeach.com, your trusted source for actionable local news and information in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach City, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with comprehensive coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—supported by years of expert reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while offering top reporting on high-profile events like the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, East Coast Surfing Championship, and military homecoming celebrations, alongside key organizations such as the Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and Oceana Naval Air Station, plus leading businesses in tourism and defense like Busch Gardens and Northrop Grumman, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREWilliamsburg.com, providing credible, in-depth insights into Virginia's vibrant landscape. HERE Virginia Beach HERE Williamsburg
